Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 23m
Distance
62.5 mi
101 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Middletown, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Washington, NJ
Mark Stebnicki
Middletown, NJ to Washington, NJ is 62.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 23 minutes via I 287, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive primarily on major highways, connecting two points within New Jersey. Expect a fairly direct journey with minimal deviations. Given its short duration, it's ideal for a single-day trip, allowing ample time for activities at your destination. The route is focused on efficient travel between these two Northeast locations.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 287 | 20.3 mi | 23m |
| NJ 35 | 14.2 mi | 21m |
| Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway | 12 mi | 13m |
| NJ 31 | 10.7 mi | 16m |
| NJ 440 | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| New Monmouth Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Washington Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Kings Highway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 18 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
8 AM
~4,189 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~323 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 26 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Middletown, NJ and Washington, NJ.
Start on CR 50
Turn left onto CR 50
Turn left onto NJ 35
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto NJ 440
Continue on I 287
Keep slight left at fork onto I 287
Take the exit
Merge onto I 78
Take the exit
Merge onto NJ 31
Turn left onto NJ 57
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 31.2 miles from Middletown, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 14.7 and 51.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward NJ 440: Raritan Center, Perth Amboy, Staten Island
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward NJ 440 South: Raritan Center
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 440 South: Raritan Center
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 78 West: Easton, Pennsylvania
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward NJ 31: Clinton, Flemington, Washington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$11.05 one way
$22.11 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.92 | $12.11 | $24.21 |
| premium | $5.24 | $12.90 | $25.81 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $13.16 | $26.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.8 | 0 | $6.56 | $3.00 |
| Efficient EV | 15.6 | 0 | $5.47 | $2.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25 | 0 | $8.75 | $4.00 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Middletown on Wednesday
Local time
4:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Sunny
Destination
Afternoon in Washington on Wednesday
Local time
4:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Sunny then Isolated Rain Showers
70°F
Edison, NJ
31 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with a 94% share of its mileage on major arteries like I 287 and the Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway. You'll experience a consistent pace for much of the journey, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 20.3 miles on I 287. While the majority is highway, be aware that some sections, like NJ 35, might introduce slightly more local traffic as you approach your destination. Overall, anticipate a swift and efficient transit largely characterized by interstate driving.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 287 and NJ 35. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 14.7 miles in.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 62.5 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 14.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 15 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
631 ft
Total Descent
297 ft
Highest Point
499 ft
~58 mi in
Elevation Range
470 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Middletown, NJ and Washington, NJ, road signs point toward Perth Amboy, Staten Island, Pennsylvania and Flemington.
Perth Amboy
Staten Island
Pennsylvania
Flemington
Founded 1693
Middletown is a bedroom community of New York City in Monmouth County, New Jersey. Middletown sits on the Raritan Bay within the Raritan Valley region. This article also covers Highlands borough. Residents like Middletown for its central location and proximity to the rest of the Jersey Shore.
Top landmarks
Founded 1868
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 23m. Total distance: 62.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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